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Starting in September, the Hales Corners Library is teaming up with the Wisconsin Humanities Council and Kathy O'Brien of the Hales Corners Historical Society to bring you the final chapter in the Wisconsin Humanities Council book discussion series, A More Perfect Union. This fourth and final edition of the discussion series is titled Domestic Tranquility and includes four books centering on the theme of domestic tranquility. The book titles and discussion dates are as follows:

The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols, with discussion held on Thursday, September 20th

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, with discussion held on Thursday, October 18th

The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle, with discussion held on Thursday, November 15th

The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, with discussion on Thursday, December 13th

Kathy O'Brien will lead the discussion sessions, all of which will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Library Board Room. Copies of each book will be available for checkout at the library. Registration, begins September 4th, and is limited. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact or visit the library.

Fall and winter (like it or not) are almost upon us and that means more story programming at the library. Story programs are run by our children's librarian, Ms. Susie and include Storytimes, Book Buddies, and Snack Attackers.

Storytimes run from September 11th through December 12th and are on Wednesdays, for 2 & 3 year olds, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and on Tuesdays for 3 to 6 year olds at 10:30-11:15 a.m. and 1:30-2:15 p.m.

The Book Buddies is for children in K5 through grade 3 and meets every other Thursday beginning September 20th and ending November 8th from 4:00-4:45 p.m. Children hear stories and have tons of fun participating in bingo, crafts, and making slime.

The Snack Attackers is for children in grades 4 through 6 and meets every other Thursday beginning September 13th and ending November 15th. Kids in this group will talk about books, eat snacks, and have a great time.

Registration for these free programs begins September 4th for Hales Corners residents and September 5th for all others. If you're interested in signing your child up for any of these groups, you may register in person or by phone (414-529-6150 ext. 10). For more information, please stop in the library and pick up a flyer or inquire at the information desk.

We love books. Old, new, short, long, we love them any way they come (well, except for chewed, musty, moldy, dirty, torn, wet... I think you get the idea). Books are our business so our love of books is a truth that goes without saying. However, the folks at Hales Corners Library have another passion--food. We love food. Some of us are talented cooks, some of us wish we were talented cooks, and some of us are just happy to eat whatever we're given, whether we've cooked it or not. Regardless of whether cooking complicated, gourmet meals is part of our daily routine, or if making mac and cheese out of a box is as gourmet as we get, we are all excited for the upcoming Friends of the Library potluck dinner.

The Friends of the Library are holding their annual potluck dinner on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ben Hunt room. This year's potluck is centered on family dishes. Anyone who takes part in the potluck should bring their favorite family dish to share (the Friends of the Library will provide beverages, rolls, butter, plates, and utensils). Diners will also get the chance to enjoy delicious home cooked food while they mingle with their neighbors. Additionally, they will have an opportunity to become a member of the Friends of the Library.

Following the dinner at 7:00 p.m., the library will be hosting a program presented by noted author and food columnist for Madison's Isthmus newspaper, Terese Allen. In her delicious discussion entitled Specialties of the Lord's House: Food and Folklore at Wisconsin Church Suppers, Ms. Allen will lead a folkloric tour around the state, covering booyah picnics, pork hocks and sauerkraut suppers, madagh memorials, and more.

Coffee and dessert will follow the dinner and program. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please contact the library at 414-529-6150 ext. 10, or come in and see us. We look forward to dining with you!

It has been quite a busy summer at the Hales Corners Library and we are sad to see it go. While the months seemed short, thanks to Ms. Susie's hard work putting together the summer reading program, they were packed to capacity with fun.

Our summer readers had a great time logging in their minutes, hours, and books read. This summer we had 351 active summer reading participants who read a whopping total of 6,373 hours. This number includes both children and adults. Of course, the summer reading program isn't an exclusive club whose admittance is reserved only for current readers; it's for future readers as well. Young children who are just learning to read also participated and logged the number of books read to them by an older reader. This year Hales Corners reading program participants had a total of 5,628 books read to them.

The numerous exciting, entertaining, and interesting programs held at the library contributed to the wild and wacky fun. Luckily, here at the Hales Corners library we believe in promoting reading and fun all year long, even if the weather isn't so pleasant! Stay informed on the fantastic programming and story times that will carry us into fall and through the winter months by visiting the library and logging onto our website and library blog.

Dogs just LOVE books!

At the Hales Corners Library we pride ourselves on knowing our patrons, particularly on knowing what information needs they have.

Lately a certain need has come to our attention. It seems that some of the dogs in the area have found our library books to be rather tasty and have been using them as their chew toys.

While some of our books, our cookbooks for instance, admittedly do look good enough to eat, it is important for them to stay in one piece for everyone to enjoy.


Fortunately for the owners of these chronic chewers, the Hales Corners Library has appropriate dog training dvds and books to help curb this behavior. Here is a selection of these materials:
Cesar's Way: the Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier, call no. 636.70887 M645
The Loved Dog: the Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior by Tamar Geller, call no. 636.70887 G318
The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller, call no. 636.70887 M649
Dog Whisperer: The Complete First Season, call no. DVD DOG 1
People Training For Dogs, call no. 636.70887 P419.

If you have a dog who indulges in chewing, and if you would like to keep the library materials you check out as well any cherished household items in tact, come into the library and check out our dog training collection!

The summer months may be coming to an end but the good times at the Hales Corners Library show no signs of slowing down.

First up is the Reading Celebration Party on Wednesday, August 8th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to celebrate a summer of great books and lots of reading. Delicious ice cream will be available and Ms. Susie will announce the top readers and raffle winners from the summer reading program. Mr. Billy's Rhythm and Clues Review will also be performing at the Reading Celebration Party. His high energy, one-man show is a definite must see.

Next, join Ms. Susie on Wednesday, August 15th at 11:30 a.m. for Lunch and Listen. Participants should pack a picnic lunch. They will meet at the library and follow Ms. Susie to a shady spot in the park. Ms. Susie will read fun new books while participants enjoy their lunch and the summer day.

As if all that wasn't enough, there's more. Family Sky Gazing night is Tuesday, August 21st at 8:45 p.m. Join us at the library to view the magnificent night sky with astronomy expert Michael Bakich, Senior Editor for Astronomy magazine. Telescopes will be set up on the grass next to the library parking lot, but all sky gazers are welcome to bring their own. The rain/cloud date for this event is Thursday, August 23rd.

Finally, the summer movies are going strong all summer long. The remaining Friday Flicks are Clue on August 10th, Scooby-Doo on August 17th, and Charlotte's Web on August 24th. All show times are at 2:00 p.m.

The Wednesday afternoon movies for August are Letters From Iwo Jima on August 8th and Dreamgirls on August 22nd. For a list of September movies, please contact the library. All Wednesday afternoon movies begin at 2:00 p.m.

No registration is needed for the above programs so be sure to join in the fun!